Automatic plating machine



July4 l, 1930o H RABEZZANA l 1,769,18g

" AUTOMATIC PLATIN@ MACHINE Filed No'v. 2, 1928 Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HECTOR RABEZZANA, `0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, 1 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANY .OF MICHIGAN AUroMA'rrc rm'rrNe'mcnmn Application led November 2, 1928. Serial No. 316,698.

Although the present invention has been somewhat broadly entitled, its primary object is to provide simple and convenient means for the conditioning and/or application of a coating of chromium, or the like, to numerous small articles or pieces,-such as the so-called first-worm shafts of speedometers; land a typical installation, suitable for the purpose referred to, may comprise o ne or more tanks adapted to contain an electrolyte or electrolytes and so positioned as to. permit the return lap of a piece-carrying elt to pass therebelow, in a manner favorable to the loading and unloading of said return lap. v

This invention preferably makes use of a belt which is either transversely or longitudi nally conductive (or both) said belt may be contacted by pulleysV Iand/or brushes connected to asource of electric current and also by pulleys (including a drive \pul1ey and a companion pulley at or near opposite ends of an installation) whose material and/or mode of support precludes or restricts electric conduction therethrough; and one of the lasted or equipped as incidental to assure a correct positioning and a secure retentlon of the ment1oned art1cles or pieces upon said mentioned pulleys is preferably so constructbelt; but complete details and minor objects of this. invention may be best understood from the description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic kelevational view, with some parts omitted and with other parts shown in section.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views in the nature of diagrammatic elevations, with parts broken away.

Referring to the details of the illustrated embodiment ofthe present invention, a drive pulley 10 and a companion pulley 10 are shown in Fig. 1 as terminally positioned with reference to the respective laps of a belt 11; an upper lap 11 of said belt is shown as passing abovel a plurality of tanks 12, 12",

50112, 12 and 12; and a lower lap 11 of said belt is shown. as passing below said tanks and in proximity to a loading and unloadlng station 13. The belt 11 is provided'with a set of suitably spaced piece-receiving sockets or equivalent elements 14,' adapted remova- -bly to retain any articles or pieces 15 to be vided with peripheral or transverse channels 16, or thelike, so spaced and shapedv as to assure an application of pressure to said pieces, tending to so secure the same upon said belt asto insure any desired conduction thereto during the advance of saidV pieces through the mentioned tank or' tanks.

The ulley 10 may be rotated, at a slow speed, y means comprising a motor 17 .and a reduction gearing 18; but the details of these devices will be understood to be comparatively immaterial. The longitudinal dimensions of the mentioned tank or tanks referred to are intended to be such, .as com- 'pared with the rate of advance of belt 11, as

to assure the exposure of the articles 15 to electrolytic and/or washing or other efects,

within said tanks, forl periods respectively suitable to the conditioningand/or plating of said articles; and, in preferred embodiments of this invention, the upper lap 11 of l ythe pieces 15 therein.

Tanks 12, 12 and 12,`assuming these to be intended for use inthe execution of electrolytic steps, may advantageously be iso- `lated from one another and provided with insulating supports 19, adapting said tanks to serve as electrodes; andsmall pulleys or rollers 20 l shown as contacted by brushes 21, and /or brushes 22 directly engaging the up-r per lap 11a of belt 11,`may be employed not only to afford guidance to said belt but to conduct electricity thereto or therefrom in such a 'manner that. the pieces 15, during.

their submersion, may serve as electrodes having opposite polarity from the respective l length, said belt may advantageously be formed from, or comprise strands of, a conductive material such as copper wire, somewhat as suggested vat 11, Fig. 2,-piece-carrying elements 14:c being secured thereto by riveting or in any suitable manner,-permitting the same to pass the mentioned pulleys, brushes and/or rollers. On the other hand, in case different parts of the mentioned belt are to be maintained at different potentials, dur,- ing the advance thereof, conductive links 11d may be so associated with non-conductive links 11` as to permit a transverse conduction through piece-receiving elements 14, although` precluding longitudinal conduction. The latter mode of construction may imply a comparativel close spacing of the conductive pulleys or rol ers 20; but it will be understood that, in the res ect referred to, as in most other respects, t e present showingis purely diagrammatic.

The loading station 13 is shown as supported by insulating'elements 19'; and, during the employment of the described organization in chromium plating, assuming the tank 12 to contain a cleaning solution (to which the pieces may be exposed for a period such as live minutes) and the tank 12d to contain a plating solution to which the same pieces may be subsequent riod such as ten minutes), the tank 12c may contain a so-called stripping so1ution,of such composition as to obviate the necessity for any washing or ,rinsing of pieces incidentally to their transfer from tank 12c to tank' 12d. y The direction of current through tank 12c may be opposite that of 12d,-the plus sign and the minus sign being so applied, in Fig. 1, as to indicate that the pieces 15 may ordinarily serve as cathodes during their passage through tanks 12'l and 12d, but as anodes during their passage through 12, the belt being then at an intermediate potential. The respective tanks 12, 12 and 12d are shown as" provided with separately variable resistances 23; but it will be understood that', as is usual in vinstallations of the general type here referred to, not only the mentioned resistances but suitable switches, ammeters and/orv other instruments may be assembled, for con,-

venient access, upon a switch board, not,l

shown; and the adjustment of the mentioned resistances, as well'as ,the voltages and density v ofcurrent employed, must depend upon the y exposed for a pe- Y memes flow of cold water and tank 12e may ordinarily receive a continuous flow ofy hot water; but no means of replenishment is shown in connection with any| of the mentioned tanks, such means being well known and immaterial to the present invention.

Although the foregoing-description has-in- .l

eluded complte details of but one general lorganization, alternative types of conductive belting being suggested in Figs. 2 and 3, it should be understood not only that various features of this invention are capable ofA independent use but also that numerous modifications thereof might easily be devised, without the slightest departure from the spirit and scope of this invention.

1. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a pair of pulleys so formed and positioned as to permit theinterposition of atank therebetween; a belt, including. conductive material and extending over said pulle s, one lap of said belt passing above said ta l and a return lap thereof passing below said tank;

and work-receiving elements so secured to V chromium-plating numerous separate pieces:

a pair of pulleys, so formed and positioned as to permit the intel-position of a tank therebetween; a belt, including conductive Inaterial and extending over said pulle s, onevl lap of said belt passing above said ta and a return lap thereof passing below said tank.;y and work-receiving-elements s o secured as to extend upward from said return lap, favorably to the positioning of pieces to be plated thereon,-said lapsbeing spaced apart by a vertical distance exceeding the height of said tank andsuflicient to permit a' downward positioning of said pieces thereon.

3.y In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate-pieces: a pair of pulleys so formed and positioned as to permit the interposition of a tank there-` between; abelt including conductivematef rial and extending over'said pulleys, one lap of said belt passing above said tank and a.

-returnlap thereof passing'- below said tank;

and work-receiving elements so secured as to thereon,said belt being rovided'wit current supply devices whic are effective. also tofdepress the same toward'saidtank s uicientlly to immerse said pieces. i 4. n anorganization suitable forfu'se in chromium-plating/numerous Vseparate ieces: fa Apair of pulleys so formed and positioned asyto permlt the interposition of a tank therebetween; 'al belt including conductive material and extending over said pulleys,one lap weones p. and work-receiving elements so secured as to extend u ward from said return lap, favorably tot e positioning of pieces to be lated thereon,said belt being rovided wit current supply'devices whic are effective also to depress the same toward said tank suiiciently to immerse said pieces, and with means for elevating the same near the ends of said tank. f

5. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces:

. a pair of pulleys so formed and positioned as to permit the i'nterposition of a tank therebetween; a belt including conductive material and extending over said pulleys, one lap of said belt lpassing above said tank and a return lap thereof passing below said tank; and work-receiving elements so secured as'to extend u ward from said return la favor ably to tige positioning of pieces to lated thereon,-said pulleys being soforme astov assure a desired relationship between said work-receiving elements and said pieces.:

6. In an organization suitable4 for use 'inf chromium-plating numerous separate pieces;

a pair of pulle s so formed and positioned as to permit the mterposition of a lurality of tanks therebetween `a belt includling conductive material and extending over said pulleys, one la'p of said belt passing above said tanks and a return lap thereof passing below said tanks; 'and Workereceivin elements so secured as to extend upwar from said return lap, favorably tothe positioning ofy pieces to be lated thereon-said belt bem provided wit current supply devices whic are eifective also to depress the same toward said ltanks sufficiently to immerse said pieces and the suppl devices of one tank being of o f posite po arity fromthose of anothertan said belt being at an intermediatepotential. 7. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces:

l a tanksulicientl elevated to permit passage of one lap of a lt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancingy said belt' piece-receiving elements so secured to said belt as to project upwardly from the lower lap thereof and downwardly from the upper lap thereof; and. means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereby, and through the solution in said tank. j

8. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a tank suiliciently elevated to permit passage of one lap of a belt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt' vpiece-receiving elementsso secured to said lt as-to project up wardly from the lowerlap thereof and down-- wardly from the upper lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereby, and through the solution in said tank,said belt bem conductive and some of said supporting an advancing means being substantially non- 'conductive. j

9. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a tank sufficiently elevated to permit passage of one lap of a belt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt' piece-receiving elements so secured to said belt as to pro'ect upwardly from the lower lap thereof an downwardly from the upper lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereby, and through the solution in said ta`nk,-said conducting means including current-carrying rollers above said tank and said belt.

l0. In an organization suitablefor use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a tank suliiciently elevated to permit passage of one lap of ja belt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt; piece-receiving elements so secured to said belt as to project upwardly from the lower lap thereof and downwardly from the upper. lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereby, and through the solution in said tank,said conducting above said tank and said belt, someof which are` disposed at such a level, obviating imn mersion of said belt, as to assure immersion, in said tank,of piecescarried by said piecereceiving elements. v

11. lIn an or anization suitable for use in chromium-plat1ng numerous separate pieces: a tank suflicientl elevated to permit passage of one lap of a lt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt; piece-receiving elements so secured to saidbelt as to project upwardly from the lower lap thereof and downwardly from the upper lap thereof; and

`means for conducting electricityl through some of said piece-receiving elements through pieces carried thereby and through the solution in said tank,-said conductiveV means inlcluding brushes supported above said tanks and in conductive relationship tosaid belt.

l1 2. In an organization lsuitable foruse in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a plurality of tanks su'iciently elevated to permit passage of a lap of a belt therebelow;

a belt comprising. laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; Imeans for supporting andadvancing said belt; piece-receiv` ing elements so secured to said belt as to project upwardly from the lower lap thereof anddownwardly from the upper lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through Some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereby, and through the solution in said tank,-the direction of current in one of said tanks being reversed relatively to that in another of said tanks.

v 13. In an organization suitable for use in chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a tanksuiilciently elevated to permit passage of one lap of a belt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt; piece-receiving elements so secured to said beltas to project up wardly from the lower lap thereof and downwardly from the upper lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, throughpieces carried thereby, and through the solutlon in said tank,-said belt being transversely conductive.

14. In an organization suitable for use in' chromium-plating numerous separate pieces: a tank suiiciently elevated to permit passage of one lap of a belt therebelow; a belt comprising laps which respectively pass above and below said tank; means for supporting and advancing said belt piece-receiving elements so secured to said belt as to pro'ect upwardly from the lower lap thereof an downwardly from the upper lap thereof; and means for conducting electricity through some of said piece-receiving elements, through pieces carried thereb and through the solution in said tank,j-sai belt being 1ongitudinally conductive. y

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HECTORY RABEZZANA. 

